Shure SE535-V Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Metallic Bronze)
Review by Andrew G. Benjamin : Probably today's top design

The 535 has been improved in several areas from the earlier 530 model, the latter of which I have two samples. The build quality has been discussed elsewhere. It is substantially solid and commendable. The replaceable cord is almost indestructible, but it being replaceable it is a non-issue.

More important is the sound quality which has been dramatically improved in a number of ways due to refinements to the shaping of the cavity within which the balanced armatures are fitted (I speak about the "speakers" inside which are more comparable to tuning forks than typical electo-magnetic speakers.) The crossover points between these armatures may also have been refined and adjusted for flatter response - meaning audibly flat, rather than just measurably flat. The external shape of the device was changed too, and it should fit more comfortably for many ears once one gets used to inserting them.

While a few listeners reported hearing "no difference" between the 535 and Shure's earlier 530 model, I strongly disagree. Or given that many people really can't hear even dramatic differences, it is merely true for them, but not true for those who can hear minute but significant changes between designs of audio equipment. The 535 is different from the 530 physically period. And sonically in a number of areas any sophisticated golden ear can hear. Among my audiophile acquaintances we could easily hear the improvements as follows:
1. Increased clarity and "transparency" throughout the frequency range resulting in better delineating of instruments, one from the other, and the textures and shapes within the sound. For example, the airy whoosh of a flute, the tinkles in the distance of a softy struck triangle at the back of the stage, the rosiny draw of the bow of a string instrument, the brassy rasp of a trombone, and the shimmer and afterglow of a brushed cymbal.
2. Higher resolution of the soundspace, such that the leading edges of percussion instruments penetrate with greater force, impact and speed. The fading tails of sound decaying away are easily distinguishable and followed to its silence.
3. The sound images locked-in-the-head feeling has been reduced significantly and the soundscape is now wider, many sounds seem to exist outside the head, even at a distance from one's ears.
4. More spatial clues and sound reflections are audible, such as naturally recorded hall ambiance and slap echo against a stage wall.
5. The bass is important to most listeners, it being the foundation for the rest and the rhythmic underpinning of music. The 535 excels in this area, even over Shure's 530 earlier model which provided deep bass surely, but not with the 535's impact, solidity and tightness, definition and textures. There are other brands with seemingly MORE bass or lower bass capability. This may be an illusion. For plumbing the deepest bass we have the requirement for very high definition. The 535 is, by a long shot, superior - you need to seal the earbud to your ear canal to hear it in all its glory.
6. One can continue describing sonic improvements over earlier designs, but there are space limits. Conclusion: I have not yet heard a more enjoyable, and most importantly, accurate portable device to date. The price, understandably, will be a factor for most people. However for the discerning listener who demands the quality of sound the 535 can furnish and will install CD Redbook standard or higher resolution audio files in their music players/iPods, the Shure 535 will be a stunning addition to their musical enjoyment on the go, in a plane, while exercising, or at home.

Shure SE535-V Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Metallic Bronze)
Review by Theodore D. Olson "KINGTED" : 535s vs 425s vs 530s

This is a review of both the Shure 535s and 425s. I have previously owned the Shure E5s and 530s. I am replacing my 530s because I accidentally left them on a plane in a rush between flights, bummer.

So after reading other peoples Amazon reviews of the 425s and the 535s I decided to try the 425s to save some money. My first impressions were: Nice build. Cool detachable wires. I am glad they brought back the formable wire around the ears. The cord is lighter, stronger, and nicer. The cord is not modular anymore. I like the silver color under the clear plastic. They fit kinda differently, mildly uncomfortable in my concha (not the ear canal). The sound is the clearest yet. Where is the BASS? (yes I know how to make a proper seal in my ear canal)

I hoped maybe the 425s needed to be broken in properly, though I previously haven't had a need to break in my other Shure headphones. So I let them play for a few days and then tried again, but as I had feared the 425s still sounded very lacking in the low end. The odd part is they can reproduce frequencies all the way down to 20Hz, but they really roll off in volume at about 100Hz. If the music had any mids or highs the bass felt lacking. So I ordered the 535s.

First impressions of the 535s: Exactly the same shape as the 425s, the cords are interchangeable and the dimensions are identical. I like having the clear plastic option again but think I prefer the new color on the inside of the plastic style. Here is the bass the 425s lack. The 535s sound very much like the 530s but even clearer. With the increased clarity, they also sound brighter than the 530s.

To my ears the 425s and 535s sound the same above about 100Hz. In fact, to me, the 425s sound like a great pair of bookshelf speakers with a misplaced subwoofer. Keeping with the speaker analogy, the 535s would be towers in the same line with the same tweeter and mids but also integrated subs. In terms of production I cannot imagine the 535s cost $200 more to make, but to my ears the 535s are the only way to go. As someone else mentioned if you only listened to older recordings or classical music (without timpani or cannons) the 425s would most likely work well, but they do not work for rock, rap, or electronica.

I think I actually would choose the 530s over the 535s or the 425s. The reason is, I find the 535s a bit too bright despite them being clearer (I am the type of listener who prefers tubes and electrostatic speakers). And while the new cables are better, have the formable wire around the ear again, and are replaceable I miss the modular design and don't like how the headphones rotate. Since they rotate around where the wire connects to the headphone it is harder to use the formable wire to maintain the proper alignment in my ear and insert them. All of my comparisons to the 530s are based on memory, because I lost them. I will be returning the 425s and keeping the 535s.

I did most of my listening using my zune 120 and hp laptop with a nuforce icon mobile headphone amp using high bitrate ripped wmas and amazon bought mp3s.

Shure SE535-V Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Metallic Bronze)
Review by Sanghoon Lee : Repair after warranty period.

Previously I wrote that Shure would not repair your earphones after the warranty period even if you are willing to pay for the repair cost. This is what I heard from Shure Canada when I asked them about reparing my SE530 earphones. They also told me that Shure US would not repair them either. I was frustrated that I had to throw away the $500 earphones just because of broken plastic pieces and wrote a negative review as below. However, when I contacted Shure US, I got a different answer that they would replace my earphones with new one at the cost of $150. I just received the replacement earphones and I am happy about how Shure US handled this. (I am still unhappy about Shure Canada though. They even tried to sell me a replacement earphones for a lower grade earphones (SCL5) at $200. This one does not even come with a package or a warranty.)

My previous review ============================
If you are thinking of buying this expensive pair of earphones, you should be aware that Shure will not repair your earphones after the warranty period (2 years) even if you are willing to pay the repair cost. This is their repair policy regarding earphones, that I confirmed with Shure Canada. (They told me that Shure US would not repair them either.) I wish I had known this when I was buying a previous version of these earphones. I thought that I could use them for long time on the presumptions that 1) these earphones would not break under normal use and 2) I could get them repaired even if they broke down. Apparently both of my presumptions were wrong. Something to think about if you plan to use the earphones for more than two years.

Shure SE535-V Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Metallic Bronze)
Review by William Melloch : great earbuds!

Just sent back a pair of the Se-530 with a broken wire.(purchased 1/10) The only thing Shure required was to fill out a one page return form and a copy of the reciept along with the broken ear buds. Four days later UPS shows up with a brand new set of Se535. Now thats customer service! I wish other company's would stand behind thier products like Shure did.As far as the ear buds performance same great sound but with a much heavier cable. I use my earbuds daily when i work out so they do get used! keep um clean and they will never let you down!

Shure SE535-V Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Metallic Bronze)
Review by Brian L. Gass "Flintstone" : Customer Service that Exceeds Every Expectation

I hope that this review will help someone who is "on the fence" on investing in a pair of SE535s.

I have owned multiple pairs of Shure headphones, some middle of the line and also pair of top of the line SE530s. I use my headphones almost daily, for work and for pleasure, and when I use them I use them for many hours at a time. In fact, I think I place an extra level of use on my headphones, more than most people would. I travel the world for business and I take my headphones and Iphone with me where ever I go. I don't need to spend any time raving about the high quality and exceptional sound that Shure creates with their headphones, there are plenty of reviews that can attest to their superior fidelity and you should expect nothing less than perfection when laying out $500 for a pair of headphones, however I want to focus on the customer support.

After 6 months or so after my original purchase I started to have problems with my SE530s, specifically the left earbud would cut out at the lower connection. I sent the headphones in and they were immediately replaced with a new pair. All was good until about 6 months or so the problem happened again, so I sent that pair in for repair and they were replaced. All in all, I replaced these SE530s three times, the last time almost a year AFTER the original warranty ran out. Shure customer service were always courteous when I called, and replaced my product(s) without issue and almost immediately after receiving my old headphones at their department.

Now, don't take this review as a problem with Shure's products. I believe that anytime a company produces a product there can be problems that occur. What I experienced with my SE530s were an exceptional product, with exceptional sound, that had a hard time under exceptional usage. Now, this could have been bad luck, or hell a bad design for all I know. Shure stood by their product and looked out for me as a customer. That is what I want people to take away from my review.

In the end, I purchased the SE535s and decided to keep my SE530s as a backup. I felt the SE535s with the replaceable cables would function better under the extreme usage that I put my headphones though and so far they have performed as I expected them to.

There are few things in the world that you really get what you pay for. The Shure SE535 headphones are in a class by themselves within this group.

Shure SE535-V Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Metallic Bronze)
Review by Andrew G. Benjamin : Shure 535, a significant improvement over the 530 and most others!

The 535 has been improved in several areas from the earlier 530 model, the latter of which I have two samples. The build quality has been discussed elsewhere. It is substantially solid and commendable. The replaceable cord is almost indestructible, but it being replaceable it is a non-issue.

More important is the sound quality which has been dramatically improved in a number of ways due to refinements to the shaping of the cavity within which the balanced armatures are fitted (I speak about the "speakers" inside which are more comparable to tuning forks than typical electo-magnetic speakers.) The crossover points between these armatures may also have been refined and adjusted for flatter response - meaning audibly flat, rather than just measurably flat. The external shape of the device was changed too, and it should fit more comfortably for many ears once one gets used to inserting them.

While a few listeners reported hearing "no difference" between the 535 and Shure's earlier 530 model, I strongly disagree. Or given that many people really can't hear even dramatic differences, it is merely true for them, but not true for those who can hear minute but significant changes between designs of audio equipment. The 535 is different from the 530 physically period. And sonically in a number of areas any sophisticated golden ear can hear. Among my audiophile acquaintances we could easily hear the improvements as follows:
1. Increased clarity and "transparency" throughout the frequency range resulting in better delineating of instruments, one from the other, and the textures and shapes within the sound. For example, the airy whoosh of a flute, the tinkles in the distance of a softy struck triangle at the back of the stage, the rosiny draw of the bow of a string instrument, the brassy rasp of a trombone, and the shimmer and afterglow of a brushed cymbal.
2. Higher resolution of the soundspace, such that the leading edges of percussion instruments penetrate with greater force, impact and speed. The fading tails of sound decaying away are easily distinguishable and followed to its silence.
3. The sound images locked-in-the-head feeling has been reduced significantly and the soundscape is now wider, many sounds seem to exist outside the head, even at a distance from one's ears.
4. More spatial clues and sound reflections are audible, such as naturally recorded hall ambiance and slap echo against a stage wall.
5. The bass is important to most listeners, it being the foundation for the rest and the rhythmic underpinning of music. The 535 excels in this area, even over Shure's 530 earlier model which provided deep bass surely, but not with the 535's impact, solidity and tightness, definition and textures. There are other brands with seemingly MORE bass or lower bass capability. This may be an illusion. For plumbing the deepest bass we have the requirement for very high definition. The 535 is, by a long shot, superior - you need to seal the earbud to your ear canal to hear it in all its glory.
6. One can continue describing sonic improvements over earlier designs, but there are space limits. Conclusion: I have not yet heard a more enjoyable, and most importantly, accurate portable device to date. The price, understandably, will be a factor for most people. However for the discerning listener who demands the quality of sound the 535 can furnish and will install CD Redbook standard or higher resolution audio files in their music players/iPods, the Shure 535 will be a stunning addition to their musical enjoyment on the go, in a plane, while exercising, or at home.

Shure SE535-V Triple High-Definition MicroDriver Earphone with Detachable Cable (Metallic Bronze)
Review by Bish : Amazing!!

The Shure SE535 is my first pair of premium earphones. I love them! I listen to all kinds of music, but mostly rock and these earphones have shown me a new dimension in most of my favorite songs. The Mids are especially awesome, and the clarity is breathtaking. Again, I am new to high-end in ears so can't really say that these are the best for the price range, but I am happy with the purchase.